Welcome to the Institute for Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Studies

The Institute for Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a locus for research and teaching on the Holocaust, genocides, and events of mass violence as well as on the memory and representation of these historical occurrences.

A Message from our New Director

Dear Colleagues and Community Members,

It is a great honor to begin the position of IHGMS Director and build on the tremendous contributions of the institute’s two previous directors, James Young and Alon Confino z’’l, as well as the interim directors, Jon Olsen and David Mednicoff. For those who don’t know me, I’m a scholar of the East European Jewish Holocaust experience and draw from both historical and literary methods in my work. For the past seven years, I have taught at Tel Aviv University and, for the past five, run the Jona Goldrich Institute for Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture.

There are many things that excite me about working at UMass: the university’s dedication to high-quality, accessible public education; the diversity of the student body; the depth of international research conducted here and the university’s connection to the surrounding local communities. I hope to integrate these values and constituencies into the IHGMS’s plans for the coming years.

This is obviously a challenging time to run an institute dedicated to Holocaust and genocide studies. I am committed to navigating these current challenges with integrity, scholarly care as well as an open mind—and hope that you will join me in this process.

One great way for me to get to know you—our local, international, scholarly and lay community members—is to see you at events, either in-person or online. Please take a look at the upcoming events we have planned for later in the year. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more.

With gratitude for all those who have made this work possible,

Hannah Pollin-Galay

Pen Tishkach Chair of Holocaust Studies

Director, Institute for Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Studies

In Memoriam: Alon Confino

Alon Confino, Director of the Institute for Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies and Professor of History and Judaic and Near Eastern studies, passed away on June 27 after a long illness.

Recording of Alon Confino Memorial Event held at the IHGMS on 9/20/2024

More about Alon Confino More about Alon Confino

Give to the Institute

The Institute relies on the generosity and support of a wide network of donors and supporters for its programs, collections, and events, and to keep the exhibition doors open for students and the public. Generous gifts from our founding donors have made it possible to bring and then open our permanent teaching exhibition, but we continue to rely on the gifts of community members, donors, alumni, and professionals to sustain the activities and mission of the Institute. Contributing Friends of the Institute will be recognized and thanked for their support with an annual Newsletter, invitations to special events, announcements, and public and private receptions.

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